Special Little Visitors

Accent residents at Station View, our extra care scheme in Barrow, have been welcoming some special little visitors into their home over the last few months.

Children from Happy Tots, a local nursery, have been joining residents with the aim of bringing the young and young at heart together, to share activities and learn from each other, and fight the impact loneliness can have on the health and wellbeing of elderly people.

Accent Extra Care Manager Amy Bower and Happy Tots Nursery Manager Helen Coward came up with the idea to get residents and children together, and they are delighted with the impact the visits are having on both sides. Not only have the children thrived from all the attention, they have gained a better understanding of the different people who make up the local community as well as a wider understanding of places and acceptable behaviour in new surroundings.

For this visit, resident Sue, who is registered blind, wanted to read the children a story. She memorised the story of George and the Dragon, as it was St George’s Day, from a voice recording then read aloud to the children. The children were enthralled.

Extra care Officer Lisa Magtoto said “It is lovely to see how the two peer groups interact with one another and get so much enjoyment from the sessions. Our residents really look forward to their friends from Happy Tots coming each week, it gives them something to look forward to and talk about afterwards. We are all really pleased that we have the opportunity to work alongside Happy Tots.”

Happy Tots Nursery Manager Helen Coward said “our children can’t wait for their next visit. They often talk about their new friends at Station View.”